[Diabetes-Talk] The Stupidity of Medtronic.

Wed Jun 19 19:38:04 UTC 2019

Yes I agree with what you are saying, where if I would need help I 
would call ira as often as needed if they could see the meeter.
You wouldn't be on a phone call long.
It seems to me that even though we are in the year we are the blind 
have to fight so hard.
I hope as children growing up, they don't have to fight as hard as we 
have done to help us out.
Understand I am in your park, I do understand what you are saying.

Original message:
> Dar,

> If you have an inaccessible meter and cannot use it visually or do not 
> have help reading it, and you wanted to use a service like AIRA or Be 
> My Eyes, you would have to use it every time you test your BGS, which 
> for many of us, could be 4 times a day, could be 8 times a day.

> For those of us with insulin pumps, it's very difficult for a person on 
> a video call to see the screen. I've tried Be My Eyes and AIRA with my 
> pump, and it was incredibly difficult for the agent to see the screen 
> on my pump.

> At the end of the day, using AIRA is not practical, and my problem with 
> AIRA is that while it has its uses, it's not creating independent 
> solutions for blind people. You are still relying on sighted assistance 
> with a service like AIRA. We shouldn't have to use AIRA, Be My Eyes or 
> anything else; accessibility should be a given in medical devices. I 
> should be able to operate all functions on my pump without assistance. 
> Likewise, it should be a given that a blind diabetic gets approval for 
> a talking meter.

> Bridgit

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Diabetes-Talk <diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of d m 
> gina via Diabetes-Talk
> Sent: Wednesday, June 19, 2019 11:19 AM
> To: diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
> Cc: d m gina <dmgina at mysero.net>
> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] The Stupidity of Medtronic.

> I have a question,
> Not all of us have ira as I do, where could that company help you run 
> the devices you are speaking about?
> Not having any, would this mean you would have to call them often?
> Remember these are just questions.

> Original message:
>> It's not just Medtronic. Even the Abbott Company and insurance
>> companies require blind people to get the completely inaccessible
>> meter, and if on the pre-approval for you say you don't need a meter
>> they don't even look at your approval information. And all of you have
>> made good points. Not approving something because results are better
>> is just stupid, so let's all brainstorm about how we can get people to
>> listen to us. I don't think we can do this before convention but
>> perhaps we need to start having Diabetic calls specifically addressing
>> these issues and we can develop some strategies to get companies to
>> start listening again.

>> Jeanette

>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Diabetes-Talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of Walter Mitchell via Diabetes-Talk
>> Sent: Tuesday, June 18, 2019 9:25 PM
>> To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
>> Cc: Walter Mitchell
>> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] The Stupidity of Medtronic.

>> Yes, I am on the National DAN Board and I was on the committee. There
>> was others as well Bernadette was on the board. The DAN was the
>> originator of the idea.

>> Walter Mitchell
>> V-President, Ohio Diabetes Action Network Board member, National
>> Diabetes Action Network
>> (513) 582-8606
>> Walterl.mitch2 at gmail.com

>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Diabetes-Talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter via Diabetes-Talk
>> Sent: Tuesday, June 18, 2019 9:14 PM
>> To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
>> Cc: Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
>> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] The Stupidity of Medtronic.

>> Is anyone from the DAN board on the committee? Is national working
>> with DAN on this? If not, it should.

>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Diabetes-Talk <diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of
>> Michael Barber via Diabetes-Talk
>> Sent: Tuesday, June 18, 2019 6:06 PM
>> To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: Michael Barber <m.barber817 at gmail.com>
>> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] The Stupidity of Medtronic.

>> Anil Lewis is the person heading up this committee at this time.

>> Cordially,
>> Michael D. Barber

>>> On Jun 18, 2019, at 5:59 PM, Eileen Scrivani via Diabetes-Talk
>>> <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:

>>> Walter,

>>> Do you know who took the places of Eric & Dylan? My thinking is that
>>> a diabetic with understanding of pump use & glucose monitors and who
>>> is blind from this group should be on that committee. I’m disgusted
>>> with the lack of motivation, interest, what ever the driving force is
>>> to try and get something done for diabetics who are blind and need to
>>> use these devices be they pumps, glucose monitors. I believe they
>>> should not be thrown into a large group of generic appliances.

>>> I have my pump that's working and under warrantee so I feel safe, for
>>> a while, but I am very worried about the future and am frightened for
>>> those blind diabetics whose pumps breakdown and won’t be able to get
>>> replacement pumps. Luckily for the person I spoke with yesterday,
>>> after speaking with me they called Medtronics who said they would
>>> work with them to get a pump they could use. At some point the supply
>>> of Medtronic pumps that a blind person can operate will dry up and go
>>> away. When I’ve spoken with Medtronic reps & my pump trainer they
>>> swear to me they are working on getting another pump that will be
>>> operational, but when, when. It is frightening to think about it.

>>> Eileen

>>> From: Walter Mitchell via Diabetes-Talk
>>> Sent: Tuesday, June 18, 2019 5:29 PM
>>> To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
>>> Cc: Walter Mitchell
>>> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] The Stupidity of Medtronic.

>>> I understand your comments, but my questions are based around, just
>>> how we lost both our experts in close proximity. We made a
>>> considerable amount of noise with them and without them, we haven't
>>> made a sound. In my book, I don't think that was a coincidence. That is 
>>> just my opinion.

>>> Walter

>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Diabetes-Talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>> Behalf Of Veronica Elsea via Diabetes-Talk
>>> Sent: Tuesday, June 18, 2019 5:13 PM
>>> To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
>>> Cc: Veronica Elsea
>>> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] The Stupidity of Medtronic.

>>> Actually, this is slightly nicer than what used to be on their web site.
>>> As for the NFB, in 2018, the accessible medical equipment task force
>>> started off working very hard and really was setting up goals, plans
>>> and assigning tasks to people. Unfortunately the NFB transferred
>>> everything to the Jernigan Institute. They dropped all of the medical
>>> equipment into one giant bill, which aims to address everything from
>>> dish washers to DVD's. They want the Access board to set up rule
>>> making and so on and so forth. If I follow this language, it will be
>>> at least
>>> 10 years before anything happens. And nobody using current diabetes
>>> management equipment is currently asked to help. So from where I sit,
>>> looks like they dropped us. But while it lasted, it was a good task
>>> force and I worked my butt off. Okay, it's still there. Darn! <grin>
>>> But I do live in fear of what will happen when Insulet decides to
>>> discontinue the model of PDM I'm using. And to think we could be a
>>> year further along in our efforts if things had continued as they
>>> started last year. Very disappointing.
>>> Veronica

>>> "Guide Dogs, First Hand", Veronica Elsea's classic album is now
>>> available on iTunes, along with other music from her and from the
>>> Guide Dog Glee Club.
>>> To learn more, visit:
>>> http://www.laurelcreekmusic.com
>>>                Veronica Elsea, Owner
>>> Laurel Creek Music Designs
>>> Santa Cruz, California
>>> Phone: 831-429-6407

>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Diabetes-Talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>> Behalf Of Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter via Diabetes-Talk
>>> Sent: Tuesday, June 18, 2019 2:01 PM
>>> To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
>>> Cc: Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
>>> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] The Stupidity of Medtronic.

>>> It's wrong but pretty standard pump language. Most companies have a
>>> similar warning. I know pens used to have similar verbiage and there
>>> was a legal action to remove this language from pen info and packaging.
>>> Wondering if something similar needs to happen with pump companies.
>>> Although, now that Medtronic is no longer making the 530G, there are
>>> not currently any pumps with work-arounds on the market.

>>> BTW, we tried to get a group together to work on this accessibility
>>> issue, and the only thing to come out out of it was a bitchfest about
>>> using Facebook in addition to the listserve. So...

>>> Bridgit

>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Diabetes-Talk <diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of
>>> Eileen Scrivani via Diabetes-Talk
>>> Sent: Tuesday, June 18, 2019 3:33 PM
>>> To: NFB Diabetes Talk <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>> Cc: Eileen Scrivani <etscrivani at verizon.net>
>>> Subject: [Diabetes-Talk] The Stupidity of Medtronic.

>>> Hi All,

>>> I got an email from Medtronic today and its subject was “Pre-travel
>>> Tips To Get You Ready For Summer.” It sounded interesting to me so I
>>> decided to click on a link in the message that brought me to their
>>> web site. I was reading along and then came their disclaimer which
>>> while I know its how they think, I couldn’t believe they had the
>>> below written out. The article was talking about the latest &
>>> greatest pumps they make which as blind diabetics we can’t use. Maybe
>>> though they should make a statement that their current pumps do not
>>> take into account accessibility rather than saying someone without
>>> vision or impaired vision should not be using insulin pump therapy. I
>>> find it especially upsetting since I just was put in touch with a
>>> person yesterday who’s current pump is going out of its warentee soon
>>> and this person is in the rough position of finding a pump to use 
>>> independantly.

>>> By the way, folks, where is the DAN on working on this topic for
>>> getting accessibility into pumps? Any plans for the up-coming convention?

>>> At the end of what I was reading came the following which is very
>>> annoying to me. Here’s what it states:

>>> “Pump therapy is not recommended for people whose vision or hearing
>>> does not allow recognition of pump signals and alarms. Pump therapy
>>> is not recommended for people who are unwilling or unable to maintain
>>> contact with their healthcare professional. The safety of the
>>> MiniMed™ 670G system has not been studied in pregnant women. For
>>> complete details of the system, including product and important
>>> safety information such as indications, contraindications, warnings
>>> and precautions associated with system and its components, please
>>> consult
>>> http://www.medtronicdiabetes.com/important-safety-information#minimed
>>> -
>>> 670g
>>>  and the appropriate user guide at
>>> http://www.medtronicdiabetes.com/download-library”

>>> If you are interested in reading this for yourselves, , here is the
>>> link to what I was reading:

>>> https://www.medtronicdiabetes.com/loop-blog/taking-care-insulin-pump-
>>> t
>>> akes-care/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eloqua&utm_campaign=may_non-pr
>>> o
>>> mo&utm_content=pumpcaretips_first_loopblog2

>>> Eileen

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> --
> --Dar
> skype: dmgina23
>   FB: dmgina
> www.twitter.com/dmgina
> every saint has a past
> every sinner has a future
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-- 
--Dar
skype: dmgina23
  FB: dmgina
www.twitter.com/dmgina
every saint has a past
every sinner has a future